Improvement in combined knapsack, tent, and litter



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS JOUBERT, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED KNAPSACK, TENT, AND LITTER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,l50, dated July 7, 1863.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis JOUBERT, of Paris, in the Empire of France, have invented a new and Improved Knapsack, Litter, and Tent Combined and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of my invention when carried by a man. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the knapsack partially opened. Fig.3 is a perspective view of my litter. Fig. 4 is a similar view of my tent. Fig. 5 is a detached elevation of one of the cross-bars with leg of the litter.

Similar letters of reference in the several' views indicate corresponding parts.

The object ofthis invention is to combine all the elements necessary to make a litter or one-half of a tent with a knapsack in such a manner that the same can be conveniently carried byasoldier, giving him the opportunity to provide the means for carrying a wounded or sick comrade from the battle-field or to shelter himself against tle sudden changes of the weather.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

A represents a knapsack made in the ordinary shape and provided with shoulder-straps a in the usual manner.

The body of my knapsack consists of a wooden case, which is covered with seal-skin or any other suitable material. The covering opens on the inside and on the outside ot' the case, and by raising the outside lid, B, access can be had to the interior of the knapsack. Said lid is secured by means of straps and buckles in the ordinary way. The inside lid, C, which is situated next to the back of the man carrying the knapsack, is also fastened by means of straps and rolled up between it and the wooden case in the canvas D, which serves as the bottom of the litter, or as onehalt of a tent-coverimg, as the case may be.

E E are the poles or sticks which support the canvas when the same is to be used as a litter or as a tent. Ihe sticks are united in the middle by a bayonet-fastening, b, and when rigged up for a litter they pass through loops d in the edges of the canvas, and their ends are inserted into rings c, attached to the crossbars F. These cross-bars are provided with legs e, which can be turned up on the sides ot' the cross-bars, as clearly shown in Fig. l, or turned down, as shownin Figs. 3 and 5. Straps f, attached to the middle of thecross-bars, are passed through holes g in the ends ot' the canvas, and by tightening these belts the canvas is stretched.

In order to support the head of the perso laying on the litter, the canvas D may be strapped to the lower edge ofthe knapsack, and the latter secured in an inclined position to one of thepcross-bars F by means of straps h hf, which are secured to its sides. Two of these straps may be'passed through rings li at the ends of the cross-bar and the other two round the poles E inside the cross-bar, as clearly shown in Fig.3 ofthe drawings. At the same time the inside lid, C, may be turned up and supported by stays j, so as to form a shelter for the head of the person lying on the litter. The case or body of the knapsack forms apillow, and the inclination of the same may be varied by means of thc straps h h.

T'Vhen used as a tent, the canvas D has to be detached from the knapsack, and each canvas forms one-halt' of a tent. The p'oles E E are rammed into the ground, andthe canvas is stretched over them, as shownin Fig. 4. While on the march, or when not used, the canvas is rolled up and secured under the inside lid, C, and the poles and cross-bars can either 'be strapped to thesides` and top ot' one knapsack, or they mayl be divided between two or more men. The straps h h on the sides and the straps lc lc on the top serve to retain the poles, as shown in Fig. l ot' the drawings.

My combined knapsack, litter, and tent is of the greatest advantage for an army in the field. It will enable two men to carry a wounded comrade from the battlefield and leave him in,a convenient position, whereas in ordinary cases and without my litter from fourv to six men will leave the ranks if they see one of their comrades lfall, and the ranks will thereby be thinned in a very embarrassing manner; and, furthermore, the litter will be a comfortable resting-place for a wounded man, and, if

desired, by combining two pieces of canvas a bined and operating in the manner and for the tent can be put up at any moment. purpose subst intially as herein shown and de- Having 'thus fully described my invention7 scribed. what I ela-1m as new, and desxre to secure by LOUIS JOUBEWD Letters Patent, is Y The arrangement of the knapsaek A, with Witnesses: straps h h 7e kf, poles E E', cross-bars F, with JAMES W. BROOK, hinged legs e', straps f, and canvas D,a11 coin- ARISTIDE MIGNOT. 

